Perfectionism and Academic Procrastination: The mediating role of rumination

Introduction: Perfectionism has different complicated relationships with procrastination, and on the other hand few studies have examined the underlying mechanisms in the relationship between perfectionism and procrastination. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of rumination as a cognitive factor in the relationship between perfectionism and procrastination.
Method: For this purpose, a sample of 277 students (male and female) at the undergraduate, master's and doctorate levels were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method from four State University. For collecting data student answered Frost Multidimensional perfectionism scale (MPS), Solomon & Rothblum Academic Procrastination Scale and Ruminative Response Styles Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results: The results showed that perfectionism and rumination are considered as good predictors for Procrastination. In addition, according to the findings of structural equation modeling (SEM), there are significant and positive causal relationships between perfectionism, rumination and procrastination, and the mediating role of rumination has been confirmed in relation with perfectionism and procrastination.
Discussion and Conclusion: The findings show that using rumination as a coping strategy in people with negative perfectionism leads to procrastination and negligence.